Understanding the Opioid Epidemic Through Data Science: A Regional and Demographic Analysis

Author

Isabella Villanueva

Description

Welcome to my data science portfolio, where I apply statistical and analytical skills to uncover critical insights into one of the most pressing public health crises in recent U.S. history. Using a comprehensive dataset from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on drug overdose death rates (1999–2016), this project explores key questions about how drug mortality has evolved over time, the demographic factors at play, and regional disparities in the epidemic.

Through interactive visualizations and in-depth analysis, you’ll discover:

  1. Which regions of the U.S. have seen the sharpest increases in drug poisoning death rates over time.
  2. Whether Hispanic origin is strongly associated with drug mortality across the nation.
  3. How drug poisoning death rates differ between men and women in various U.S. regions.
  4. Which age ranges see the most drug poisoning deaths?

This project not only demonstrates the power of data in addressing real-world challenges but also serves as a foundation for my growing expertise in public health analytics. Dive deeper into the insights on the full project page!